NACA advances solutions to HIV, gender-based violence

As part of activities to commemorate 16 days of activism on Gender Based Violence (GBV) for 2017, the National Agency for Control of AIDS (NACA) is advancing economic empowerment initiatives for addressing Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) intersections with GBV.

Every year, the 16 days of activism against GBV is commemorated from November 25 (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women), to December 10 (Human Rights Day).

The 16-day campaign is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world. The initiative provides a moment to bring the issue of violence against women to global prominence and also presents the opportunity for resourcing and supporting gender and women empowerment initiatives (GEWE).

This year (2017), in accordance to the United Nation (UN) Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, managed by UN Women, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence has the overarching theme, “Leave No One Behind: Ending Violence against Women and Girls”. The colour theme for the campaign is orange.

Head Corporate Communications at NACA, Mrs. Toyin Aderigbigbe, in a statement, said the goal of this initiative is to economically empower 50 vulnerable and indigent women and girls thereby contributing towards ending violence against women and girls in Nigeria.

According to Aderigbigbe, the objectives are to: promote entrepreneurships and income generation through acquisition of skills among vulnerable women and girls in Nigeria; and create awareness and sensitize Nigerian in Abuja and environment on violence against women and girls.

She said the event was flagged off on December 4 with graduation on December15, 2017, at Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA), Kadokuchi, Abuja.